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25 Apr 06 - 01:01 PM (#1727087) Subject: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: RangerSteve It may happen, according to my doctor. I'm losing sleep thinking about it. They idea of never being able to leave the state (I'd need dialysis every two days) is driving me crazy, since my family lives in other states. I'm not even sure if it's compatible with being a police officer - working different shifts if the dialysis has to be done at the same time every day. I'm trying not to go crazy thinking about this. Has anyone else had to go through this, or know anyone who has? Thanks. Steve |
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25 Apr 06 - 01:21 PM (#1727101) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Mr Red my cousin is on dialysis and he planned to go to OZ (from UK) and but for an simple infection he would have done it. It needs a lot of logistic planning with hospitals etc lined-up. He made it to Toronto for Xmas one year but he was, at the time, on CPD. They use the perritineum (sp?) as an osmotic membrane and use a sugar type solution to draw the mineral/salts across. In the UK they don't let you go unless all the liquid bags are stored in the arrival location or at the suppliers. He had to dialyse in the airport before leaving and maybe on the plane across. I think he went to Spain like that. He was back on hospital dialysis when he planned the Oz trip. He insured against his wife being unable to go but the insurance was so much it was cheaper to loose the fare for himself. By all means discuss CPD with the experts but it may not be for everyone. Carl caught MRSA and it really put him off CPD or maybe he could not go back to it. You have to be scrouplessly clean and avoid hospitals - ha! PM me if you want me to ask questions but I bet there are more knowledgeable people around here. Carl could drink a little alcohol on CPD but he is TT now - it is easier he reckons. His complication is that he is on Warfarin, which was probably the start of the problem. |
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25 Apr 06 - 01:41 PM (#1727139) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Rapparee Talk to your doctor, talk to your urologist, talk to your hospital, talk to your boss. You can't be fired for a medical condition, and there are lots of jobs a cop can do besides being on patrol. Medical accomodations are always in order. |
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25 Apr 06 - 01:48 PM (#1727146) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: katlaughing The National Kidney Organisation has some good general tips and info on how to travel with this need. Also, you say your doc says it may happen. I understand the loss of sleep and please forgive me if this offends you, but is this a specialist or a regualr MD? Are they doing everything they can to prevent it being needed? (Having gone through a bit in the past year, I found I have one kidney which was "stunted" from birth, so basically function with only one, so have had some experience with nephrologists. The one I have here is fantastic.) Secondly, to get some sleep and not worry too much, I highly recommend Qi Gong Flow for Beginners as a positive focus and calming thing to do. It really helps to stop the worry cycle of the mind. Good thoughts coming your way. Take some deep breaths and blow out all that worry! kat |
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25 Apr 06 - 02:33 PM (#1727198) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Ebbie My son in law first had dialysis when he was 27 years old while waiting for a donated kidney. Twelve years later he was on it again for a few months while waiting for a second donor. He is now four years into this one. His (ongoing) problem is the disease itself which attacks a donated kidney just as it did his own. Having a different cause, your experience most likely will be very different. My understanding of dialysis is that, unpleasant as it is, it is doable. It buys time, which is no small thing. If you'd like, I can put you in touch with him. Just PM me. |
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25 Apr 06 - 03:11 PM (#1727234) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Marion Hello Ranger Steve. Here's a link to a patient manual from the (Canadian) Kidney Foundation: Living With Kidney Disease. Chapter 6 contains some advice on travel, and chapter 7 talks about work issues. I expect that the US organization has something similar available. I assume that you're talking about hemodialysis (i.e., hospital dialysis) rather than peritoneal dialysis (most commonly done at home 4 times a day). Either way, it will take a lot of planning to travel, but you won't be confined to your state. One of my professors commented that dialysis patients can always go to the local emergency room if something goes awry in your travel planning. Best wishes, Marion (nursing student) |
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25 Apr 06 - 03:26 PM (#1727250) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: artbrooks My sister works in a stand-alone dialysis center in Atlanta, and I'm pretty sure that part of their patient population is people who are traveling. It takes some pre-planning, of course, but I can't see that you'd be tied to one place. |
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25 Apr 06 - 11:55 PM (#1727613) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Stilly River Sage I wish there was some way to Google an answer and make this problem go away. Good luck, and if you need any research, PM and ask. The university where I work has a nursing school so my library subscribes to many of the medical journals and databases. If you have a particular term or condition you need researched I can print out the findings and drop them in the mail to you. I've done this kind of search for several people (myself included!) It doesn't guarantee anything more than information that you can 1) scare yourself silly with or 2) use to work out a set of keywords for when you interview your doctor or specialists. Gives you a starting point a littler farther along a sliding scale than where many patients find themselves. SRS |
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26 Apr 06 - 04:12 AM (#1727684) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Ella who is Sooze Ranger steve. I've sent you a long pm about it, didn't want to put it all on here, but there are some helpful ideas I hope, plus links to websites. I hope it helps. Just remember, there's lots out there like you, and it helps to talk. Regards EWIS |
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26 Apr 06 - 07:52 AM (#1727764) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: ard mhacha What a great response, good luck Steve. |
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26 Apr 06 - 11:40 AM (#1727958) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: RangerSteve Thanks, everyone, especially Suze for the PM. My regular doctor seems to think the problem may be reversible, or, if not, at least held off with a low-protein diet. I'll gladly give up meat if it's necessary. I'll see my kidney doctor today. Dislysis isn't certain yet, I'm just worried, probably more than I need to be, but since I've seen Mudcatters helping each other in similar situations, I thought I'd give you guys a try. You've all been great. Thanks. Steve |
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26 Apr 06 - 12:17 PM (#1727985) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Rapparee I'll forebear posting puns like, "Well, we're here if urine trouble" or "That's a piss-poor situation!" Instead, let us know how it goes. Actually, we do care. |
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26 Apr 06 - 12:20 PM (#1727989) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: katlaughing If it has anything to do with proteinuria and blood in the urine, be sure to ask about the correlation between sleep apnea and those conditions. My nephrologist told me they are finding use of a CPAP, at night, can help. I had both of those problems for years with no explanation of why...none of the tests came out positive for the usual suspects. The lack of enough oxygen due to sleep apnea seems to be the only explanation AND the only thing which has helped. Good well:-) kat |
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26 Apr 06 - 02:56 PM (#1728109) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: EBarnacle Depending on where you are located, you might be mandated to receive either machine dialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal is more convenient but it is also much more prone to infectious processes. Absolute cleanliness is required. It is also much easier to travel with the relevant medical supplies. If you are on machine dialysis, bring your dialyzers with you. Many centers practice reuse. In some, you might accidentally end up with someone else's dialyzer and the potential for hepatitis. I worked as a biomedical engineer in hemodialysis for 18 years. If you would like to discuss this at length, I will be at home tonight and am going to place my home phone on a PM to you. |
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27 Apr 06 - 08:58 AM (#1728705) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: RangerSteve Thanks, again to everyone who answered. Repaire, the puns are welcome. I need a laugh. I guess I was more worried than I needed to be, I'll probably not need the dialysis this summer, and if I do, I can always volumteer for steady evening shifts and get the dialysis during the day. I'm opting for the machine version. It's good to know I can get it out of state. My doctor assured me that the company that does the dialysis is a world-wide outfit. I'm calm now. Thanks for the folks who PM'ed me. All your help was and is appreciated. Steve |
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27 Apr 06 - 09:17 AM (#1728717) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: fretless Steve, I just saw the thread. Info, limited as you will see, is on a p.m. Fred |
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13 Nov 08 - 06:38 PM (#2493208) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Ed T From Science news Undergoing dialysis for eight hours overnight, three times weekly, reduces the risk of death by nearly 80 percent, compared to conventional, four-hour dialysis. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081108155830.htm |
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14 Nov 08 - 12:20 AM (#2493415) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: EBarnacle As a former biomed engineer in Haemodialysis, 18 years, although peritoneal dialysis offers more freedom, the opportunity for a major infection is significantly higher. There are many places which only pay for PD. If you are involved with either a hospital or an outpatient clinic, the social worker should be able to help you make arrangements to travel. Despite the report cited above, Hemo patients have been known to survive for more than 40 years of treatment. I have known several of them. One of them was a physician who went back to the death committees of the 60's as a teenager. He was the first dialysis patient to go to medical school while being treated. He died within a year of his wife's death. I believe he lost the will to live. Most renal patients get to live a long and full life even though they have to schedule their lives around their treatment. If you are in an area which allows it, you can get set up for home hemo. You will either have to have a trained technician come in or have you significant other available to do the job 3x weekly. If you do not skimp on your times, you can live long and prosper. |
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14 Nov 08 - 08:34 PM (#2494284) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: EBarnacle The article is consistent with earlier studies. Virtually all sources agree that the reason for better health and mortality results on longer dialysis is that patients' systems have longer to adapt and are therefore more comfortable. Do you damndest to avoid going anywhere that any place that treats its patients for less than 4 hours. |
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15 Nov 08 - 03:48 PM (#2494718) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Joybell Good luck, Steve. Joy |
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15 Nov 08 - 04:03 PM (#2494725) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: olddude Ranger Steve does any member of your family have a match for a transplant? is this an option for you my friend. I had a friend that had to go through the dialysis. It was just awful but his brother turned out to be a match and now he is just fine. Is there anything we here can do to help you? I would do a fund raiser for you and set up a website for it if that would help you in anyway, just PM me God Bless Dan |
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15 Nov 08 - 10:26 PM (#2494885) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: RangerSteve Thanks, Dan. Since type II diabetes runs in my family, getting a kidney from them is out of the question. I'm getting on the kidney transplant list at a hospital here in NJ on Dec. 3. I've been on dialysis for a couple of years now, and I'm doing ok. |
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16 Nov 08 - 08:01 AM (#2495036) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Beer All the very best. Adrien |
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17 Nov 08 - 12:52 AM (#2495591) Subject: RE: BS: Ranger Steve's kidney dialysis questions From: Ebbie My son in law is living with his third kidney transplant, all in the last 15 years or so. The first was from a deceased person, the next two have been from friends. I just can't imagine how one thanks anyone sufficiently. My SIL's problem is that the disease that destroyed his own kidneys is still active. This last kidney is the best match yet but rejection has not ever been his problem. He is now 46 years old. |